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June 20th, 2007 by StephenPosted in GTD, GTD with ADD, Lifehacks, The Examined Life |
Welcome back! It's good to see you again. Please note that I am now publishing all new material at my hub site: StephenPSmith.com
Last night’s post on creating new habits for utilizing a Tickler File (for GTD) in spite of your ADD seems to have created a bit of controversy with a commenter. He wanted to know my source for the idea that it takes 21 days to create a new habit.
Well, to say the least, I have learned a powerful lesson about listening to the “Conventional Wisdom“. It appears that a big chunk of the self-help industry may be mistaken about this idea.
I have been doing some research on the origins of this concept, as well as looking at the work of current researchers in this field. If you have any suggestions or leads, go ahead and drop a link in the comments. (be aware that Comments with links are moderated, so be patient)
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Update: Ariane is already on it!
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June 20th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I’ve really been enjoying your posts on organizing with ADD - I live with someone who might have ADD, and it is useful to see more about how he might think and what might work for him.
Regarding the 21-day habit thing…your original citation of Maltz’s work said “phantom sensations,” not pain. I think it might be possible that these are two separate things. Phantom sensation could be when the amputee decides to close the fist on the missing arm, and believes that he feels the fingers closing. Phantom pain is, of course, pain.
I also wonder if the 21-day thing might have come from how long it took amputees to really remember the limb was gone, and stop habitually reaching out with a missing hand (for example). I’m glad you’re taking the time to do the research. I’m interested in the results.
June 20th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Yes - Phantom limb pain and sensation may be 2 different things - but this study suggests that 79% of respondents report sensations not pain when surveyed 6 months or more post amputation.
Chronic phantom sensations, phantom pain, residual limb pain, and other regional pain after lower limb amputation.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2000; 81(8):1039-44 (ISSN: 0003-9993)
Ehde DM; Czerniecki JM; Smith DG; Campbell KM; Edwards WT; Jensen MP; Robinson LR
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98104-2499, USA.
RESULTS: Of the respondents, 79% reported phantom limb sensations, 72% reported phantom limb pain, and 74% reported residual limb pain.
So - I still don’t know where Maltz came up with his 21 day figure. Everything seems to link back to Maltz and psycho-cybernetics, but surely there must be more evidence than this. Why not 11 days, why not 19 to establish a habit. Are we limiting ourselves by accepting this 21 day time frame?
I acutally read psycho-cybernetics 4 years ago (unfortunately before GTD and my “@waiting for ? to return my book” context - I’m still trying to track down a copy) and think it contains some very useful principles, many of which I have applied in my own life. My concern is the acceptance of “common knowledge” which often has no real scientific basis. My search for hard evidence for the time frame to establish habits continues - you never know evidence for the 21 days may be out there somewhere.